Tubtjiar



Aug. 27, 1940. A. J. MARsHAUs TUBULAR LAMP BASE AND SOCKET OriginalFiled March 25, 1958 rllllIlll/l Inventor Anthony J. Mar-shams,

H s Attorneg.

Reissuecl Aug. 27, 1940 PATENT OFFICE" 21,545 TUBULAB BASE AND SOCKETAnthony J. Marshalls, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to General ElectricCompany, a corporation of New York Original No. 2,137,174, datedNovember 15, 1938, Serial No. 198,059, March 25, 1938. Application forreissue July 1, 1939, Serial No. 282,590k

Claims.

My invention relates to electric lamps and similar devices, and moreparticularly to a base and socket construction for such devices. Stillmore particularly, my invention relates to a base and socketconstruction for electric lamps oi the double-ended discharge type, inwhich a iilamentary electrode is mounted at each end of the lamp.

One object of my invention is to' provide a 1 base and socketconstruction for electric lamps wherein the lamp may be readily insertedin its socket and positively locked therein so as to eii'ectivelyprevent unwarranted or premature disengagement therebetween.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric lamp socket inwhich the contact terminals are entirely concealed and unexposed so thatthe danger of shock or of short circuits is absent.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a base and socketconstruction for electric lamps wherein the lamp may be freely rotatedin its socket, thereby eliminating the possibility of the base contactprongs being broken oi! the $6 base, or the cement bond between the baseand the glass envelope of the lamp being disrupted during insertion inor removal of the lamp from its socket.

, A further object of my invention is to provide a lamp baseconstruction which will insure the correct assembly of the lamp in itssocket, thereby eliminating the possibility of any binding or jamming ofthe base in the socket during insertion of the lamp in such socket.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a socket and baseconstruction for electric lamps in which the base is provided with aplurality of pins or prongs arranged in a comlmon plane, and the socketis provided with a e0 circular slot and a diametrical slot with leaf Q5of said prongs into interlocking engagement with the lea! springs.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of a species thereof and from the ac- -60companying drawing.

1n the drawing, Fig. 1 is s. side view,.p'm1y m section, of a base andsocket construction compricing my invention, the base being mounted on alamp disposed in correct position preparatorytoitsinstioninthesocket;Fig.2isanisometric view of the socket shown inFig. 1 with the cover plate removed and shown separate therefrom; Fig. 8is an end view, partly in section, of the inner or lamp-engaging end ofthe socket shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the cover platefor the socket shown in Fig. 1; l Fig. 5 is an isometric view of thelamp base shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line l-t ofFig. 3 with the lampshown in correct assembled position in the socket:and Fig. 'I is a 1 fragmentary isometric view of a modified form of basecomprising my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the socket IU according to my inventioncomprises a base or body member II, a pair of spring ngers or contactmembers I2. I2, and a cover plate I3. The base and cover plate membersII and I3 respectively are made oi. suitable insulating material,preferably that commercially known as Bakelite. The inner orlamp-engaging side Il of the base 2 member is hollowed out adiacent itsfront wall I5 to provide a'circular slot Il forming a cylindrical studIl, and a diametrical slot I3 extending rearwardly from the front wallI5 back through the cylindrical stud n. The inner side 25 Il of the basemember is furtherghollowed out rearwardly of the circular slot I9 toprovide a channel Il in substantial alignment with the said diametricalslot I3 and extending rearwardk1y from the circular slot ls tothe backof the 3 base member. To provide clearance for flexing of the springcontact members I2, the walls 2l of the channel rI3 diverge forwardly.At its rearmost extremity the channel I9 is widened or enlarged, asindicated at 2|, to thereby provide 35 suitable abutment shoulders 22,22 for the spring vcontact members I2, I2. 'Ihese abutment shoulderspreferably extend at approximately right `angles to the longitudinalaxis of the channel I9.

The basel member is provided at its rear with 40 a pair of oppositelyextending projections 23, 23 having openings 24 through which socketmounting screws are adapted to extend.

Mounted within the hollowed-out portions I3 and I3 of the base membersare the platespring 45 elements I2, I2 previously referred to, saidspring elements constituting the terminal or contact members o! thesocket. These contact members are preferably made of full-springphosphorbronze, and are bent laterally at their rear extremities toprovide mounting lugs 25 which are securely clamped against the abutmentshoulders 22 by a clamping lug 26 extending from the rear of the coverplate I3. The two contact members areseparated from each other -by aivide mme pci-uom :s extending intoeucular slot I6 on opposite sides ofthe diametrical slot Il. The arcuate portions 2| are so formed 16 as tobe substantially concentric with the circular slot It. and arepreferably curved ons radius Vequaltoor slightlylarserthanthatoftheinnerwall 8l of the said circular slot. To provide a denite rotative lockedposition iorthe lamp,

- 80 the arcuate portions 2l of the spring ilngers Il are provided4 withoutwardly extending diametrically opposite notches Il, 3| preferablylocated in a plane extending substantially at right angles to thediametrical slot' i8. 'I'he forward extremi- I g5 ties of the arcuateportions 2l are curled outwardly. as indicated at Il, and preferablyterminate adjacent the plane of the walls of the diametrical slot Il soas not to obstruct the same.

The hallowed-out side of the base member Ii is covered bythe previouslymentioned cover plate I3 which is secured to the base member by means ofrivets 33. preferably of soft brass, embedded inthe molded material ofthe base member and extending through properly located openings ll inthe cover plate. The side wall il of the base member is preferablyrecessed an amount equal to the thickness of the cover plate to form arecessed mounting seat Il therefor.

thus providing a ush. mounting for the cover plate. A circular opening33, concentric with the circular slot IB in the base member, is providedin the cover plate I3, as well as a slot I1 in alignment with and of thesame width as the diametrical slot IB in the base member. Ihe slot I1extends from the front .of `the cover plate back to the circular opening3l, thus providing a passageway thereinto,

As before described, the cover plate I 3 is formedv at its rearextremity with a clamping-lug Il which extends into the widened recess2| at the rear of the b ase member and clamps the mounting lug on eachspring contact member I! against its co-operating abutment shoulder 22on the base member. In addition, the cover plate is further providedwith the previously referred to spacing lug 21 which extends into thechannel I9 in the base member and maintains the spring contact membersI2, I2 in spaced relation. Circuit connections to the contact members ofthe socket are made by means of wire leads 3l, ll soldered to the ngerportions '2l of the contact members closely adjacent the bottom wall ofthe channel i9, and extending out through channels or grooves I9. 39provided for that purpose in the clamping lug 26 on the' cover plate.

The'v lamp base ll for co-operation with the above-described socket IIcomprises a cup-shaped body of suitable insulating material preferablyof Bakelite and consisting of a bottom or end wall Il and a cylindricalwall l2. The cylindrical wall is of the proper internal diameter to fitloosely over the end or neck portion M of the glass envelope of the lamp4I, to which neckportion the base ls united by suitable cement I6.'.I'hebase III is provided with three Vprisingmyinventionistobeused rg@arrt t .ietf-l' The lamp lead ,llextendinto the hollowouterpinsorprongsllandaresolderedthereimpreferablybydipping the hollow open-ended pins ina bath of solder.

Wherethebsseandsocketconstructioncoma double-ended lamp charge tube, asshown is moimted on' each SEE' each end of the lamp iswireslltothetwoouterpinslloftheadj basellleavingthecenterpinineschbaseasdummypin. Apaircfsockets il, Il constructed in accordance with myinvmtion are mounted. on a-suitablenxture Il soastobein with eachother.The sockets should the proper amount from each other Toinsertthelampinthesockets I.. Il,the lamp is nrst placed in the positionshown in l'ig. l with the pins 41 in augment with the diamet-` rical pinslots Il and 31 in the sockets. The lamp istheninserted betweenthesocketsbyastraight inward movement, the pins I1 at each end of thelamp being guided at the same time into the cooperating diametrical pinslots in the sockets. The inward movement of the lamp is continued untilthe two outer pins at eachl end of the lamp are brought into augmentwith. andthe center` or dummy pin coincideswith the center oi thecircular slot Il in the socket base member Il. Tosoallgntheouterbasepinsl1 withthesaid circular slot, the circular opening II in the socketcover plate Il is made of the same diameter as. or slightly greater thanthe distance d (Fig. l) between the outer sides of the two outer basepins". 'Ihus.thatportionllofthewallofthe circular opening Il opposite orin line with the diametrical pin slot 31 constitutes a stop for limitingthe inward movement of the lamp and simultaneously aligning the outerbase rpins with the circular pin slots Il in each socket. Thecenterordummypinateachendofthelampinsuresthecorrectinsertionofallthebasepinsin the diametrical pin slots in the sockets so'that Ilthe l front portion of the circular pin slot I when moved into alignmenttherewith.

When the outer base pins at each end of the lamp Jhave been moved intoalignment with the circular pin slot I0 in each socket, as describedabove, the lamp may then be readily rotated in either direction againstthe spring resistance of the contact members i2 in each socket. Byrotating the lamp in either direction, the two outer pins or prongs 41in each base will engage the arcuate portions 29 of the spring contactmembers I2 andso ex the said members. When the lamp has been rotatedapproximately ninety degrees, the two outer base pins at each end of thelamp will be brought into alignment with, and will become locked in thenotches 3i in the spring contact members I2,`thereby providing apositive lock against unwarranted or premature disengagement of the lampfrom the sockets. 'I'hus where the lamp is to be mounted on a ceiling.

so as to occupy an inverted position. there is no danger whatever of thelamp accidentally falling out of the sockets. During the above describedrotation of the lamp inA the -sockets I0, I0, the center or dummy pinsat each end of the l lamp cooperate with the diametrical pin slot wallsto thereby fix the axis of lamp rotation in a direction transversely ofsaid diametrical slots.

In the modified form oi lamp base shown in Fig. 7. the body portionthereof comprises a cylindrical metallic collar M provided with aninwardly extending end flange 55 forming a part of the base end wall.The collar B4 with its flange il is preferably punched as a unit fromsheet brass. and is preferably nickel plated. 'I'he ange IB is ofuniform inward extent so as to thereby provide a centrally locatedcircular opening |56 in the base end wall. This opening 56 is closed bya disc l1 of insulating material, preferably Bakelite, which is moldedto the offset edge 58 of the flange so as to lie ush with the outersurface of said ange. I'he desired number of base pins 41 (i. e., eithertwo or three) are mounted in the Bakelite disc I1 Vin the same manner asin the previous form of base. The inner surface of the Bakelite disc I1is formed with a centrally located circular recess 5! for the purposeoi' accommodating therein the exhaust tip of the lamp bulb. The brasscylindrical collar 54 is of the proper internal diameter to t looselyover the neck portion I4 of the glass lamp e'nvelope 45, and it issecured thereto in the same manner as before, i. e.. by suitable cement4B.

The use of a brass collar 5l to encircle the neck portion Il of theglass lamp envelope 45 obvlates any danger of breakage of said neckportion by the contraction of shrinkage of the encircling collar or bandof the base upon cooling, following the base cementing operation. Inaddition, the use of the relatively thin brass collar Il together withthe centrally located Bakelite disc 51 permits closer mounting of thebase to the end of the lamp envelope l5 since the said disc 51 canextend into the recess in the end of the envelope provided by the stemtube flare 59. The result lof such a closer mounting is to reduce thelongitudinal extent of the darkenedor unilluminated portions at each endof the lamp during operation, occasioned by the presence of a basethereat. This is particularly advantageous in cases where a series oflamps are to be mounted in alignment with one another so as toapproximate a continuous line of light. In this connection, the socketil may be somewhat widened and the opposite faces each provided with apair of contact members i2, Il thus forming, in eii'ect. a double socketfor mounting two lamps Il end to end and in axial alignment to therebyapproximate a continuous line of light.

From the above description, it is evident that I have provided animproved base and socket construction for the mounting of electric lampsand similar devices, particularly of the double-ended type, whereby thesame may be positively locked in said sockets to guard againstunwarranted disengagement therefrom. Furthermore, the contact members ofmy improved socket are-well concealed by the cover plate thereof so asto prevent short circuits therebetween as well as injurious shockstherefrom.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a memberof insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereofwith diametrically opposite arcuate slots and also with a slot extendingdiametrically of and intersecting both of said arcuate slots, saiddiametrical slot extending to an edge of said face,

,and spring contact members mounted in said member adjacent said arcuateslots and on opposite sides of said diametrical slot.

2. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a memberof insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereofwith diametrically opposite arcuate slots and also with a slot extendingdiametrically of and intersecting both of said arcuate slots, saiddiametrical slot extending to an edge of said face, and spring contactmembers mounted in said member adjacent said arcuate slots and onopposite sides of said diametrical slot, said contact members beingprovided with diametrically opposite notches.

3. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a memberof insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereofwith a circular slot and also with a slot extending diametrically ofsaid circular slot and continuing to an edge of said face, and springcontact members mounted within said circular slot on opposite sides ofsaid diametrical slot, said contact members having diametricallyopposite notches disposed in a plane extending substantiallytransversely of said diametrical slot.

4. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a memberof insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereofwith a circular slot and also with a slot extending diametrically ofsaid circular slot and continuing to an edge of said face, and springcontact members mounted within said member and having arcuate portionsdisposed in said circular slot on opposite sides of said diametricalslot, said arcuate portions being substantially concentric with theinner wall of said circular slot.

5. A socket for electric lamps and similar devices comprising a memberoi' insulating material, said member being provided in a face thereofwith a circular slot and also with a slot extending diametrically ofsaid circular slot and continuing to an edge of said face, and springcontact members mounted within said member and having arcuateportionsdisposed in said circular slot on opposite sides of saiddiametrical slot, said arcuate portions being substantially concentricwith the inner wall of said circular slot and having diametricallyopposite notches disposed in a 'lov plane extending substantiallytransversely of said diametrical slot.

6. Asocketforeiectric lamps and similardevicesabasemember ofinsulatingma terial, saidbase memberbeingprovidedinafacethereofwithacircularslot andalsowithaslot extending diametrically ofsaid circular slot and continuingto an edge of said face, spring contactmembers mounted within said base member and having arcuate portionsdisposedin said circular slot on opposite sides of said diametricalslot, said arcuate portions being substantially concentric with theinner wall of said circular slot, and a cover plate of insulatingmaterial securedtosaidbasemember. said cover platebeing provided with acircularropening concentric with said circular slot and of a diameterslightly larger than that of saidarcuate portions and a'lsobeingprovided with a slot in alignment with said diametrical slot andextending to the edge of said 00m plte. j

7. In combination, an electric device provided with a base having aplurality of alignedpins extending outwardly therefrom, and a socket forcooperation therewith, said socket comprising a member of insulatingmaterial having diametrically opposite arcuate slots and a slotextending diametrically of and intersecting both of said arcuate slots.said diametrical slot extending to an edge of said member, and springcontact members mounted within said arcuate slots on oppositevsides ofsaid diametrical slot and constructed and arranged to engage certain ofsaid pins upon their rotation in said arcuate slots.

8. In combination, a double-ended electric device having a base at eachend. each of said bases having a plurality of aligned pins extendingoutwardly therefrom, all of said pins lying in a common plane, and apair of spaced opposed sockets constructed and arranged to receive andmount the said electric device therebetween, the opposing faces of saidsockets being provided with circular pin slots and aligned straightpinslots extending diametrically of said circular slots and continuingto the front edge of said faces, said sockets also having Spring contactmembers mounted in said circular slots on opposite sides of saiddiametrlcal slots and constructed and arranged to engage certain of saidpins upon their -device may be mcunted'in said sockets by insertion ofthe pins at each end of the device in the said straight pin slots in theadjacent socket ahousingofinsulatingmaterialhavingarecess followed bystraight rearward movement of said device until the outer pins of eachbase are brought into alignment with the said circular slots whence thedevice may then be rotated in either direction to thereby bring the saidouter pins into engagement with said contact members.

l0. In combination, a double-ended electric devicehavingabaseateachend,each of saidbases Il having a plurality of aligned pinsextending outl anus wsrdiytnerefromailofssidpinsiyinginsoommon-plane.andapaircfspacedopposedsochets constructed and arranged to receive andmount the said electric device therebetween, saidsochstebeingpmvidedwithopposingcircularpinslotsg' having diametrically oppositespring contact members therein, the spring contact members in eachsocket being provided with. diametrically opposite notches. said socketsalso having aligned straight pin slots'extending rearwardly fromthe l.

front edge thereof and diametrically intersecting said circular 'slotswhereby the said electric devicemaybemountedinsaidsockctsbyin-,sertionof thepinsateachendofthedeviceinthe said straight Pin slots llithe adjacent socket a followed by straight rearward movement oi said fdevice until the outer pins of Veach base are brought into alignmentwith the said circular slots whence the device may then be rotated ineither direction to thereby bring the said outer l said housing being'provided with mamen-wsu; u I

opposite arcuate slots and also with a slot extending diametrically ofand intersecting both of said arcuate slots, said diametrical slotextending to an edge of said housing, and spring contact members mountedin said housing adjacent said ,o

arcuate slots and on opposite sides of said diametrical slot.

' 12. A socket for electric lamps and similar de vices comprising ahousing of insulating matsrial. said housing being provided with acircular u slot and also with a slot' extending diametrically of saidcircular slot and continuing to anvedge of said housing and springcontact members mounts ed within said housing and having arcuateportionsdlsposedinsaidcircularslotonopposite sides of said diametricalslot, said arcuate portions being substantially concentrlc with theinner wall of said circular slot.

i3. In a socket for electric lamps or the like.` a housing of insulatingmaterial having a recess therein, a cylindrical stud upstanding from thebottom of said recess, said stud being provided with a diametrical slot,said housing being provided with a slot extending from said recess to anouter edge thereof in alignment with the slotinsaidstudandspringcontactmembershaving portions in said recesscooperating with said stud on opposite sides of said diametricai slotfor engaging the prongs of a lamp or the like.

A 14. In a socket for electric lamps or the like, a

.housing of insulating material having a recess therein, a stud locatedin said recess and being providedwith an intermediate slot, said housingbeing provided with a slot extending from said recess to an outer edgethereof in alignment with the slot in said stud, and spring contact mem-"bers having portions in said recess cooperating with said stud onopposite sides of said intermed iate slot for ensuing the prongs of alamp or the like.

Il l5. In a socket for electric lamps or the like,

therein, a stud upstanding from the bottom of said recess, said studbeing provided with an lntermediate slot, said housing being providedwith 10 sides of said intermediate slot. said housing bav- 7g ing a stopportion in t with said slots for engaging one o! the spaced prongs of alamp or the like to locate the prongs in relation to said stud andcontact members whereby said prongs may be rotated about said-stud intoengagement with said contact members.`

16. In a socket for use with electric lamps havv ing spaced contactpins, a support o! insulating material having at least one face with anopening therein and a slot extending from said opening to an edgethereof. spaced flexible contact members mounted in said support withinsaid opening, a slotted member oi insulating material between saidcontacts. said slot and said member constituting means for guiding saidcontact pins into said opening through said slot by straight line motionand for allowing rotation thereof into engagement with said contactmembers.

17. In a socket for use with electric lamps having spaced contact pins,a housing of insulating material having a recess therein and a slotmera'- ing with said recess and extending to an edge oi said housing,spaced contact members in said recess, a member in said recess having agroove in alignment'with said slot, said slot and said grooved memberconstituting means for guiding said contact pins into said recess bystraight line movement along said slot and said groove and for allowingrotation thereof into engagement with said contact members.

18. In a socket for use with a lamp having spaced contact pins, contactmembers comprising spaced parallel blades movable relatively to eachother. walls forming a slot located between said contact blades, andmeans for guiding straight line motion of said lamp pins into said slotand rotary motion of said lamp pins into engagement and a-slot extendingfrom said opening to the v edge of said face, spaced ilexible contactmembers mounted in said support within said opening and a guide memberof insulating material between said contacts, and spaced throughout itsperimeter from the peripheral wall of said opening.

20. In a lamp socket for use with lamps having spaced aligned contactpins to be inserted by movement transverse to the axis oi the lamp andbrought into a releasable locked contacting relation by rotation, asupport of insulating material having walls defining an opening in oneface and a slot extending from said opening to an edge of said face toprovide for transverse movement of the contact pins therethrough to aposition within s aid opening and flexible contact members mounted onsaid support within said opening in diametricaily opposed spacedrelationship and adapted to hold said contact pins inra releasablelocked rotative position while permitting rotation oi said lamp ineither direction whereby the lamp contact pins may be passed throughsaid slot and freely rotated within said opening for engagement withsaid contact members. I

ANTHONY J. MARSHAUB.

